Ask HN: To people who own smart assistants, how often do you use it?
Is it like the way iPhone was used (high usage) or the way VR headsets are used (low usage)?
There's a reason iPhone grew and VR headsets didn't, as of now.
There's a reason iPhone grew and VR headsets didn't, as of now.
For input devices I have a Google home, mini, 2x Chromecast and a pixel 3 xl.
When I'm ironing my clothes in the morning/brushing my teeth/generally getting ready I ask Google home about about the weather, and have it play some music on Spotify.
When I get in my car, my phone auto connects to Bluetooth, and it automatically keeps playing my music, or I ask it to open pocketcast and play a podcast.
As I pull out of my driveway I ask it to navigate to work. I have three equal distance routes, but live traffic updates to route around accidents is super useful.
After work, I get in my car, auto connects to Bluetooth, and I have it text my wife that I'm on my way home.
Ask it to navigate home, again taking advantage of live traffic updates.
When I'm home in the evening I'll use it to set a timer while cooking, play music, control/play Netflix or YouTube red.
I'll also use it to control the lights (I use hue bulbs throughout the house).
When I head to bed I have it turn off the lights downstairs, and turn on the lights in my spare bedroom so I can set my things out for the next day. Then I have it turn off all the lights except for the outdoor ones.
Basically it's a hands free input tool. Because I have a pixel, Chromecast, and home, etc., they all work pretty smoothly together.
I like how the Chromecast combined with a home can turn on the TV, open an app (Netflix/Spotify/YouTube) and play specific media without a remote or pressing any buttons.
The pixel in the car is amazing for directions, making phone calls/sending (but not receiving) texts.
I like how I can be anywhere in the house and control music and video via my voice.
Its nice that the different input devices do pretty well with figuring out which one is closest to you to preform the action you are trying to complete. For instance even though multiple devices in different rooms may hear me from the living room, it will be the living room home that open Netflix on my living room TV.
I think using the assistant for things like calendar, weather, traffic, calls, etc is more difficult than just using a phone.
But being able to turn off all the lights in my apartment when I'm ready to go to bed by just saying "lights off" is really nice.
Idk. To me it seems like a high level gimmick the tech giants used to make another billion. More hype than value.
I guess that can be done on non smart speakers too.
The alert thing is really cool! A unique way to handle kids.
1. OK Google, what's the temperature outside? 2. OK Google, turn off all the lights. 3. OK Google, turn on all the lights.
If I don't say all, it turns three lights on instead of 8.
Does it help knowing the changes in temperature outside?
I can take an umbrella if it'll rain soon but what can I do by knowing that temperature will rise by 1°C in two hours?
Genuinely curious.
Another neat feature is the "play latest news" to have it play the latest hourly news from NPR, Bloomberg, CBC or whatever you set it up with.
Makes me wonder, what else one might want while sleeping?